Job offer: Agricultural Assistant x2

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

CIRCULAR NO. 4 OF 2024.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified local candidates for the following positions that are tenable in the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition:

MINISTRY : AGRICULTURE, FOOD SECURITY & NUTRITION

DEPARTMENT : FIELD SERVICES

SECTION : EXTENSION

TITLE : AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANT

GRADE : D

RESPONSIBLE TO : AREA EXTENSION OFFICER

LOCATION : DAO MASERU (2)

JOB SUMMARY

UNDER THE GENERAL SUPERVISION OF THE AREA EXTENSION OFFICER, THE INCUMBENT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT; TRAINING OF FARMERS; COORDINATION OF SUB-RESOURCE CENTER ACTIVITIES AND PREPARATION OF SUB-RESOURCE CENTER BUDGET.

MAIN DUTIES

1 COMMUNITY CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

• Creates awareness in the designated area on the UES concept to encourage their development initiatives.
• Conducts a pitso in the designated area to explain the ALC process.
• Liaises with team members to facilitate the implementation of Action Learning Cycle in selected villages in order that the communities may identify and solve their problems.
• Encourages coordinated action to address community issues and problems through the development of community action plans for more efficient and effective utilization of their available resources.
• Supports and strengthens existing local institutions, groups and cooperatives through provision of technical expertise with the assistance of Area Technical Officer and SMS where necessary.
• Develops the capacity of individual farmers to set and achieve their development goals for the betterment of their livelihoods.
• Supports general agricultural development schemes/programmes in the area assigned for income generation and poverty alleviation.
• Guides the community in the designated area in monitoring and evaluating their progress in the implementation of their action plan to ensure that they learn from their experiences.

1.   TRAINING OF FARMERS

• Trains farmers on specific technical issues arising from the community action plan with the assistance of Area Technical Officer and SMS where necessary in order to improve their knowledge and skills.
• Encourages farmer learning through experimentation trials and demonstrations on farm to develop innovative farmer solutions to their problems.
• Provides advice and general information to farmers and other stakeholders on agricultural matters to solve their problems.
• Liaises with the Area Extension Officer and Technical Officer (of the relevant field) in arranging study tours and farmer-to-farmer visits to expose agricultural methods and ideas within and outside the designated area.
• Promotes and trains farmers extension facilitators in order to equip them with knowledge and skills.

2.   COORDINATION OF SUB SECTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Liaises with other sub-sectional heads within and outside the resource center to solicit support in the implementation of crops activities.
• Convenes monthly meetings with sub-centre heads for planning and reporting in order to ensure integrated implementation of crops activities.
• Liaises with stakeholders to sensitize them on sub-sectoral developments to facilitate consistency, mutual support and synchronic implementation of crops programmes.

3.    PREPARATION OF THE SECTIONAL BUDGET

• Prepares the overall sub-sectional budget annually to ensure that all sub-sectional programs and projects are funded accordingly and implemented smoothly
• Negotiates and justifies co-operatives budget at the divisional budget discussions in order to secure the necessary funds to finance sub- sectional activities.
• Recommends the review of the sub-sectional budget to the divisional head whenever the need arises to realign it with the changes in the sectional business plan to facilitate the implementation of the critical programs and activities within the section.

COMPENSABLE FACTORS

JOB SPECIFICATION

Education and training requirements

• Certificate in General Agriculture

Experience

• Not required

Other necessary knowledge and skills

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Conflict management skills
• Interpretation and analysis skills
• Training skills

2.  RESPONSIBILITY2.1  For work of others

The incumbent will be responsible for the work of Livestock Attendants, Field Attendants, Wool Classers, Field Recorders, Grazing Control Supervisors, Forest Rangers, Stud grooms, Pack grooms, Farriers, Gabion Builders and Stockmen.

2.2  For property

The incumbent is responsible for proper utilization and safekeeping of his or her office furniture and equipment.

2.3  For budget and finance in general

The incumbent is responsible for timely provision of his/her annual budgetary requirements to the immediate supervisor.

2.4  For safety of others

The incumbent will be responsible for provision of protective clothing to his/her subordinates.

2.5  For effect of errors

The incumbent will be held responsible for work-related errors such as inappropriate utilization of office equipment and facilities.

3.   COMPLEXITY3.1  Authority for decision-making

The incumbent has authority to:

• Recommend on the capacity of stock for a certain area.
• Make recommendations of groups that may or may not be registered
• Authorizes the absence from duty of subordinates after establishing the genuity of reasons thereof.
• Decides on the quantity and type of certain inputs to be used per area.

3.2       Problem solving

The job requires the incumbent to resolve work-related problems such as:

-power struggle between amongst the group members

-Illegal demand of fees for services rendered by subordinates for farmers

-Resolve conflicts among subordinates.

3.3  Supervision received

The incumbent is expected to work independently but reports monthly to his or her immediate supervisor.

3.4  Dexterity

This factor is not applicable in this job.

• CONTACTS

The incumbent comes into contacts with the following officers/offices during the execution of duties: